Lot Essay
The present plate, with its distinctively fine landscape painting and crowned harp mark, is probably from a specific service, perhaps a special commission or presentation. Its illustrious provenance of Drayton House in Northamptonshire tantalisingly links it to two possible candidates - Lionel, 1st Duke of Dorset (d.1765), who was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1751-55, or his third son Lord George Sackville, later Viscount Sackville (d.1785), who was Chief Secretary of Ireland from 1750-55; either could equally well have been in a position to be given or commission such a service. Indeed the plate is possibly part of the set recorded in the collection of Mr. S. G. Stopford Sackville of Drayton House in 1913 and recorded by William Chaffers as early as 1874. Similar wares are found with pseudo Chinese marks and a pair of crested table stands are known with floral sprig marks which were clearly intended for a sophisticated clientele (Peter Francis, ibid., col. pl. 22 and also Michael Archer, Delftware, London, 1997, p. 225, no. 238 for an example in the Victoria & Albert Museum [c.1446-1924]).
This type of decoration is distinct from contemporary wares made in England and has become synonymous with Henry Delamain's factory. This style of romantic landscape painting reflects a trend in Irish painting of the period for works influenced by Claude Lorrain and his followers. Stylistically it is comparable to Continental faience, particularly French wares from Marseille. This demonstrates Delamain's ambition to produce distinctive wares which match or exceed imports in quality and decoration. Delamain was associated with several important landscape painters of the day, the most noteworthy being Robert Carver and Peter Shee; signed oils by both artists are known and documentary evidence exists linking them directly to the World's End Pottery.
This type of decoration is distinct from contemporary wares made in England and has become synonymous with Henry Delamain's factory. This style of romantic landscape painting reflects a trend in Irish painting of the period for works influenced by Claude Lorrain and his followers. Stylistically it is comparable to Continental faience, particularly French wares from Marseille. This demonstrates Delamain's ambition to produce distinctive wares which match or exceed imports in quality and decoration. Delamain was associated with several important landscape painters of the day, the most noteworthy being Robert Carver and Peter Shee; signed oils by both artists are known and documentary evidence exists linking them directly to the World's End Pottery.